Skaggs Grant Helps C Of O Students Gain Medical Experience
February 27, 2020
College of the Ozarks Professor of Nursing Dr. Janice Williams, from left, is joined by senior nursing students Krystin Gertson, Jamie Chapman and Rebekah Cowan. Gertson, Chapman and Cowan each received $8,000 scholarships to cover room and board fees for the school year.
Rebekah Cowan, a student at College of the Ozarks, describes a scholarship she received last summer as an answer to her prayers.
Cowan, who is in her final year of nursing school, received an $8,000 scholarship to cover room and board expenses for the current school year. The scholarship was made possible by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant to College of the Ozarks. The program aims to help free up summer months for nursing students like Cowan. Instead of spending her summer working to pay room and board fees for her final year of college, the scholarship made it possible for Cowan to use that time to get hands-on experience in the medical field.
“The scholarship, it was honestly an answer to my prayer,” Cowan said. “Typically, I work for the college over the summer. That pays for my room and board, which is the greatest cost C of O students have to pay since our tuition is covered (through the college’s work program). But, $8,000 is still $8,000 and it’s a lot to try to meet on your own.”
Cowan spent her summer interning in the Emergency Department at Cox Medical Center Branson. Because of that experience, she now works part-time at the hospital. After she graduates in May, she’ll begin fulltime at the hospital as a nurse.
“I was really grateful for the scholarship,” Cowan said, explaining that instead of working only at the college over the summer to earn room and board, she was able to work in a healthcare environment. “It’s given me employment and I cannot be more excited.”
Cowan is one of six students to receive the scholarship this past summer. Each year since 2015, the college has received a grant from Skaggs Foundation, making the Senior Nursing Student Scholarship program possible. Over the course of that time, 36 students have benefited.
“I’m also grateful and blessed to have received the scholarship,” said senior Jamie Chapman. “Because I received the scholarship, I was able to work as an extern at Cox Branson labor and delivery, which is my passion. I love babies and it was such a blessing to be able to witness the births of so many babies and be able to help moms. It was absolutely incredible. It really solidified what I want to do in the future as an OB nurse.”
Skaggs Legacy Endowment is a restricted endowment fund made possible by a generous gift from CoxHealth in 2013. Since that time, Skaggs Foundation has awarded more than $5.3 million to organizations dedicated to improving health and wellness in Stone and Taney counties. Current grants will impact more than 46,000 lives.
Cowan, who is in her final year of nursing school, received an $8,000 scholarship to cover room and board expenses for the current school year. The scholarship was made possible by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant to College of the Ozarks. The program aims to help free up summer months for nursing students like Cowan. Instead of spending her summer working to pay room and board fees for her final year of college, the scholarship made it possible for Cowan to use that time to get hands-on experience in the medical field.
“The scholarship, it was honestly an answer to my prayer,” Cowan said. “Typically, I work for the college over the summer. That pays for my room and board, which is the greatest cost C of O students have to pay since our tuition is covered (through the college’s work program). But, $8,000 is still $8,000 and it’s a lot to try to meet on your own.”
Cowan spent her summer interning in the Emergency Department at Cox Medical Center Branson. Because of that experience, she now works part-time at the hospital. After she graduates in May, she’ll begin fulltime at the hospital as a nurse.
“I was really grateful for the scholarship,” Cowan said, explaining that instead of working only at the college over the summer to earn room and board, she was able to work in a healthcare environment. “It’s given me employment and I cannot be more excited.”
Cowan is one of six students to receive the scholarship this past summer. Each year since 2015, the college has received a grant from Skaggs Foundation, making the Senior Nursing Student Scholarship program possible. Over the course of that time, 36 students have benefited.
“I’m also grateful and blessed to have received the scholarship,” said senior Jamie Chapman. “Because I received the scholarship, I was able to work as an extern at Cox Branson labor and delivery, which is my passion. I love babies and it was such a blessing to be able to witness the births of so many babies and be able to help moms. It was absolutely incredible. It really solidified what I want to do in the future as an OB nurse.”
Skaggs Legacy Endowment is a restricted endowment fund made possible by a generous gift from CoxHealth in 2013. Since that time, Skaggs Foundation has awarded more than $5.3 million to organizations dedicated to improving health and wellness in Stone and Taney counties. Current grants will impact more than 46,000 lives.